LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 15: Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Yahoo Toyota and Christopher Bell 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Interstate Batteries Toyota lead the field around the track for the opening pace laps before the start of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Pennzoil 400 on March 15, 2026, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. Photo Chris Williams/LVMS/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAR 15 NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon0072603150199

Apr 5, 2026, 12:00 PM CUT

NASCAR’s Old-School Race Coverage Could Return After $110B Merger

NASCAR's broadcast future could see a return to its past. That legacy might continue, as a potential $110 billion merger between CBS and TNT Sports is on the horizon.

The deal between Paramount Global (the owner of CBS) and Warner Bros. Discovery (the owner of TNT) gained attention after Puck News journalist John Ourand explained the potential post-merger steps if the deal goes through.

If completed by the end of the 2026 season, it could bring NASCAR back to CBS after almost two decades.

TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser said, "When we talk about the transaction, it’s important to note that we are operating as two separate companies until the transaction is completed. In the meantime, there’s no discussion about the future or what happens."

He said, "All those things are being decided later. We have the ability to continue to do the deals we’re doing now, and to operate this company as an independent company and a separate company from Paramount."

While this potential change would be significant for viewers, it could also benefit TNT Sports, which already has a seven-year deal with NASCAR starting in 2025.

The agreement could bring greater resources and elevate the presentation of mid-season races.

Why CBS Left the Track in 2000, and Why Their Return Would Be Different This Time

CBS aired its final NASCAR race in 2000, marking the end of their long-running partnership. The shift came as NASCAR moved to a centralized media rights model.

Previously, each track had its own contracts. To streamline this system, NASCAR signed a centralized deal with Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and Turner Broadcasting.

Another factor was CBS’s commitments to other sports, which did not align with NASCAR’s expanding schedule. The final strain in the partnership came when, due to a rain delay, CBS abandoned the broadcast of the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

The reported merger could mark as a new chapter between NASCAR and CBS, possibly leading to them working together again.

With NASCAR tied to a $7.7 billion deal that includes TNT Sports, any role for CBS would likely affect presentation, not the deal itself. If the merger happens, the 2027 season could still be a major TV moment for fans.

Written by

Sanskriti Pastor

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav